Kyodo News Digest: April 23, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 9 hours ago - 23:00 | All, Japan, World
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
Japan to emphasize benefits of free trade to U.S. in tariff talks: PM
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday that Japan will emphasize the importance of free trade in bilateral tariff negotiations with the United States, despite President Donald Trump pursuing his protectionist and growth-stifling "America First" policy.
During a one-on-one parliamentary debate with opposition party leaders, Ishiba said Japan will highlight its contributions through investment in the United States. This follows Trump's decision to impose tariffs in a bid to rectify what he sees as imbalanced state of trade.
----------
Japan ministers steer clear of war-linked Yasukuni during festival
TOKYO - None of the current members of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine during a three-day spring festival that ended Wednesday, partly due to diplomatic considerations.
Ishiba sent a ritual "masakaki" offering to the shrine on the first day of the festival, prompting a protest from China and disappointing South Korea. The neighboring countries see the Shinto shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
----------
Expo Osaka draws 1 million visitors in 11 days since opening
OSAKA - The number of visitors to the World Exposition in Osaka reached one million on Wednesday, in 11 days since its opening, the organizers said.
Speaking at an event to mark the milestone, Hiroyuki Ishige, secretary general of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, said the expo will be a good holiday destination for a "once in a lifetime" experience during the upcoming Golden Week season.
----------
2nd melted fuel sample retrieved from crippled Fukushima reactor
TOKYO - The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex said it retrieved the second sample of melted fuel Wednesday from one of the reactors hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami over a decade ago.
The debris extracted from the No. 2 reactor by Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. is believed to weigh 3 grams or less, out of the estimated 880 tons remaining in the Nos. 1 to 3 units that melted down during the nuclear crisis that began in March 2011.
----------
Japan PM to make 4-day visit to Vietnam, Philippines from Sunday
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to make a four-day trip from Sunday to Vietnam and the Philippines as part of Japan's summit diplomacy to maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, the government said Wednesday.
Japan has been focusing on building stronger ties with Southeast Asian nations, as U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked uncertainty over the global economic and security situation. Ishiba's visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent trip to the region.
----------
Japan's chief negotiator slammed for "MAGA" cap photo with Trump
TOKYO - The leader of Japan's main opposition party on Wednesday lambasted the country's chief negotiator on U.S. tariffs for taking a photo with President Donald Trump while wearing a red "Make America Great Again" cap presented to him in Washington.
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, who is responsible for the tariff issue, "crossed a line," said Noda, chief of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, during a one-on-one parliamentary debate with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
----------
Japan carmakers aim to bounce back with new EVs at Shanghai show
SHANGHAI - Major Japanese automakers unveiled their latest electric vehicle models at the Shanghai motor show on Wednesday, hoping to bounce back in the Chinese market that has seen cutthroat competition with local carmakers amid a rapid shift toward new energy vehicles.
About 1,000 companies including auto parts makers are participating in the biennial show through May 2, one of the world's biggest auto exhibitions, at a time when a tit-for-tat tariff war between the United States and China has cast a shadow over the car industry.
----------
Judo: Japanese women aim to rebound from Olympic setback at worlds
TOKYO - After mustering only two medals at the Paris Olympics, the Japanese women's judo team faces a difficult road as it seeks to reassert its dominance at the world championships in June.
Japan's nine-woman contingent in Budapest will feature three world championship debutants and only one previous winner in Uta Abe, a shock second-round loser at last summer's Olympics, who will fight for her fifth world title at 52 kilograms.
Video: "Commons" joint pavilions popular among visitors at Osaka Expo
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Japan PM aims for nominal GDP to reach 1,000 tril. yen in 2040
KYODO NEWS - 8 hours ago - 22:02 | All, Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that Japan should aim to boost its economy to 1,000 trillion yen ($7 trillion) in nominal terms in 2040, instructing his ruling party executives to include it in a pledge for this summer's nationwide election. The size compares with a nominal gross domestic product of around 600 trillion yen in 2024, which met a target set about a decade ago. Japan, however, had lost its status as the world's third-largest economy to Germany the previous year. Ishiba said that while giving priority to ensuring that wage growth consistently outpaces inflation, his Liberal Democratic Party will seek to achieve an over 50 percent increase in average income in the same time frame. The goals were set as the country's major political parties are looking at ways to woo voters with their campaign pledges for the House of Councillors, or upper house, election, with opposition parties calling for reducing the consumption tax to ease the pain of inflation on households. "I wanted to share with Japanese people what specifically a strong economy will look like," Ishiba told reporters. "I've instructed party executives to target nominal GDP of 1,000 trillion yen in 2040 and over 50 percent growth in average income at the top of our election promises" for the upper house contest, he added. Nominal GDP shows the size of an economy in current prices. Japan's economy expanded in 2024 when the country was reeling from the yen's persistent weakness and the resulting cost-push inflation. In the run-up to this summer's upper house election, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the biggest opposition force, is seeking to temporarily remove the consumption tax on food, currently at 8 percent, and offer cash handouts. Party leader Yoshihiko Noda said Monday that combatting inflation is a major theme for the upper house race, which will replace half of the 248-member chamber. Ishiba, however, has taken a cautious stance on lowering the consumption tax rate on food as an inflation-relief measure. The LDP's election chief Seiji Kihara said the party will consider "effective" cash handouts with the use of surplus tax revenue when it formalizes its election platform. Related coverage: Japan's top negotiator eyes U.S. trip this week for 6th tariff talks Many see continued cuts in bond buying as appropriate: BOJ chief Ueda Japan PM says mutual understanding "deepened" with Trump over tariffs
Japan Today
4 hours ago
- Japan Today
Ishiba aims for nominal GDP to reach ¥1,000 tril in 2040
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that Japan should aim to boost its economy to 1,000 trillion yen ($7 trillion) in nominal terms in 2040, instructing his ruling party executives to include it in a pledge for this summer's nationwide election. The size compares with a nominal gross domestic product of around 600 trillion yen in 2024, which met a target set about a decade ago. Japan, however, had lost its status as the world's third-largest economy to Germany the previous year. Ishiba said that while giving priority to ensuring that wage growth consistently outpaces inflation, his Liberal Democratic Party will seek to achieve an over 50 percent increase in average income in the same time frame. The goals were set as the country's major political parties are looking at ways to woo voters with their campaign pledges for the House of Councillors, or upper house, election, with opposition parties calling for reducing the consumption tax to ease the pain of inflation on households. "I wanted to share with Japanese people what specifically a strong economy will look like," Ishiba told reporters. "I've instructed party executives to target nominal GDP of 1,000 trillion yen in 2040 and over 50 percent growth in average income at the top of our election promises" for the upper house contest, he added. Nominal GDP shows the size of an economy in current prices. Japan's economy expanded in 2024 when the country was reeling from the yen's persistent weakness and the resulting cost-push inflation. In the run-up to this summer's upper house election, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the biggest opposition force, is seeking to temporarily remove the consumption tax on food, currently at 8 percent, and offer cash handouts. Party leader Yoshihiko Noda said Monday that combatting inflation is a major theme for the upper house race, which will replace half of the 248-member chamber. Ishiba, however, has taken a cautious stance on lowering the consumption tax rate on food as an inflation-relief measure. The LDP's election chief Seiji Kihara said the party will consider "effective" cash handouts with the use of surplus tax revenue when it formalizes its election platform. © KYODO
Japan Today
4 hours ago
- Japan Today
Ishiba, Lee agree to build stable ties between Japan, S Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung agreed Monday to build stable bilateral ties amid a severe strategic environment, with both expressing hope to meet in person at an early date. In their first telephone conversation since Lee took office last week, Ishiba and the South Korean leader also confirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation with their shared ally, the United States, the Japanese government said. Japan and South Korea see each other as partners who can tackle global challenges, as the Asian neighbors have seen a thaw in ties long marred by issues linked to wartime history and territory, the two governments said. During the roughly 25-minute conversation, Ishiba was quoted by the government as telling Lee he wants to advance bilateral ties, building on the "foundation" the two governments have already laid. Ishiba sought Lee's cooperation in addressing challenges posed by North Korea, including Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese nationals in the 1970s and 1980s, according to Japan. South Korea's presidential office also said that Lee and Ishiba agreed to build a "stronger and more mature Korea-Japan relationship based on mutual respect, trust and a responsible attitude." Lee, a liberal who has taken a firm stance on the bilateral spat over wartime labor and territory, said last week as president that he places importance on consistency in bilateral relations with Japan. After taking office following the ouster of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, over the abrupt imposition of martial law, Lee indicated he would uphold the previous administration's approach to compensating South Korean wartime laborers. The Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule between 1910 and 1945. The earliest possible opportunity for an in-person summit meeting would come on the fringes of a three-day meeting of the Group of Seven nations to be held in Canada from Sunday. Ishiba is expected to attend the summit as head of G7 member Japan, while Lee has accepted an invitation to attend the gathering as a non-member. Japan and South Korea hope to maintain momentum in improving bilateral ties as they mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization this year. The two countries share a view on the need to deepen three-way cooperation with the United States amid growing security threats from North Korea, which is seeking closer military ties with Russia. According to South Korea's presidential office, the two leaders expressed their "commitment" to jointly responding to various geopolitical challenges within the tripartite framework. © KYODO
